“In this feature, we explore the ten things we think Apple could do to OS X that would make it a better operating system as we – presumably – move towards the 11th version of Mac OS,” Craig Grannell writes via TechRadar.

“However, some of these enhancements could, of course, appear in OS X 10.9 and so this feature could equally be called OS X 10.9: what we’d like to see,” Grannell writes. “We’ve included changes to existing features, entirely new ideas and the return of some old favourites, plus the opinions of two interface experts.”

Top 10 most-wanted features for OS XI:

• Make a better Finder: The heart of OS X’s interface is in dire need of a makeover
• Dismantle iTunes: It’s time for this Jack of all trades to be master of some
• Revamp the desktop: Why not make the desktop more like a real desktop
• Add more color
• Enhance Spotlight
• Enhance full-screen mode: You’ve given it to us, now make it work properly
• Give us a media center: Bring back Front Row – or preferably something better
• Revert to ‘Save As’
• Improve sound controls
• WindowShade

Not the same thing as printing out a list of what’s in Finder window or having a text file of it. You’d have to OCR a graphics snapshot of a text file. Not nearly as convenient as the functionality of what was in the classic Mac OS.

I needed to do that a while ago, so I wrote a little action script that does: select all, copy, open TextEdit, paste, print, and close TexEdit without saving. A bit kludgey, but it worked. It was convenient when the Finder handled it in one swell foop.

Seems like this is a request to make the OS more Windows-like in some areas – and I can never understand why people have a gripe with iTunes, which to me is one of the most user-friendly and best all-in-one pieces of software ever written.

I like iTunes too, but that may be because I’ve been using it since version 1.0 (which was a Mac OS 9 app!). So I understand how it has evolved over time, and learned to use its many features one at a time, as they were added. Someone using it for the first time today may be confused and intimidated.

Apple should rethink the Menu Bar as part of the GUI. If it is kept, it needs to be “scaleable” (like the Dock and other elements of the Mac’s OS) so that it is not a fixed size dependent on the overall screen resolution setting. That should be #1 on the list.

And it may be a good move to remove it from the interface. Most apps today, including iTunes, already have the most commonly used controls on the app’s window. As the screen gets larger (higher resolution), it become progressively more inconvenient to move the cursor to the upper edge of the screen to do something, then move it back to what you are doing. The contextual menu (“right click”) can already be used in place of the Menu Bar in many situations, as long as the developer codes for it. The NeXT OS did not have a Menu Bar.

Perhaps the best “compromise” would be to make it scaleable and then hide it (or have a user preferences setting to hide it like for the Dock). It should act somewhat like the Menu Bar already does in full screen app mode. When you move your cursor to the upper edge of the screen, it unhides. Otherwise, it’s out of the way, to give the user a bit more space.

That does not mean Apple should not make this change. I’m NOT saying put the Menu Bar on each window, like in Windows. Get rid of it; Apple can invent a NEW way that handles the current functionality of the Menu Bar, which is becoming less and less important over time.

Or they can keep the Menu Bar, but get it out of the way most of the time. On smaller screens (such as the 11.6-inch MacBook Air), the Menu Bar and Dock takes up a significant percentage of the screen. There is an option to hide the Dock. There should be an option to hide the Menu Bar (which already happens in full screen app mode).

I think iTunes is fine, and I also don’t want to see anything too weird with the desktop. I prefer mine to be empty, clutter would just distract me and those features would probably not be used for that reason.

I agree. iTunes is fine and NOT part of the OS anyhow. I find the desktop useless and is usually covered with windows. The dock and info and the left side of windows replaced the desktop for me. The desktop is just another folder.

I really like the suggestion above about printing out the contents of Finder windows/folders.

If these are all the issues, OSX seems pretty perfect. Compared to Windows, it truly is. But the finder really needs a big makeover. All the alternative finder apps have big issues, so Apple should try to make it better themselves.

Fix Safari! Don’t wait till 10.9 or 11. Fix it now. It’s slow and buggy and, did I mention, slooooooow. I thought perhaps it was my aged late 2009 iMac so I got a new i7 Mac mini with a Fusion Drive. Nope. It’s Safari. I’ve tried everything suggested in the forums to get it working at an acceptable speed with no joy. Now I’m using Chrome. I miss a lot of the features in Safari–reader, sharing integration, etc–but it’s just not usable in it’s present form. FIX SAFARI!

Yes I hate the fact in Mountain Lion you can’t change the font in Safari with the default being less readable than others. Why do we seem to always be taking a step back in basic features? I loved Windowshade and the only wy to get that functionality back is from a software developer who takes his sweet time to update it because Applw makes it harder to upgrade.

My list would be:
1. Bring back rosetta (even if it costs a bit more) – I think the addition of rosetta would finally allow for most users to not have a drawback from upgrading and would unit the users running the same OS more
2. Bring back the color icons in finder and itunes – can’t stand the grey look, i know there are hacks but its more work than needed
3. Take away all the transitions between applications – or at least have a button to turn them off
4. Allow power nap for all macs – I truly don’t see a reason not too especially for desktops since they don’t relie on batties
5. Include some preloaded fun stuff – macs use to come with some preloaded games and music

btw I also don’t have anything wrong with itunes so it can stay the way it is, especially after v. 11 of it.

I think we should have the option to turn the colour icons to grey if we want. Personally, I find the clouts to distracting and would prefer everything goes to grey except working windows. But that would drive some people I sane I suppose.

Here we go again, a wish list of features that Apple should add to its products. If OS X 10.9 or XI comes out without these new suggested features, you’ve just set yourself up (again) for one hell of a disappointment. Apple stock will fall. OS X-gate will begin. Craig Federighi would be hung, drawn and quartered. And Tim Cook would be blamed for allowing it all to happen in the first place. Tacking on this failure with all the other recent “failures” such as the Maps fiasco, etc. and over a year now sans SJ, it’s all downhill from here for Apple, I’m afraid. What makes you think that Apple has not already considered all or many of these features? Why don’t you send all these suggestions to Apple directly instead of complaining about them? Apple can’t please everybody. It tries to make great products for people… not add the ability for a user to be able to tweak the system all to hell (like PC). Those not in the PC camp just want a computer that’s simple and just works. If you don’t like the OS because of the “lack of feature” then go elsewhere.